A few days ago, I received a very cool and unexpected gift from HBO. My first thought was that this had to be something related to the Game of Thrones series coming out in April (a show I have been torturously waiting to watch for what seems like an eternity now).

When I opened the package, I felt like a 4-year-old kid on Christmas morning. At first glance, it appeared to be a box of buried treasure, though little did I know that what was in store for me would be much more valuable… and fun!

UPDATE: The pics and Kristen’s blog post are below but I’ve added the video we shot to show off the set

I want to add here that not only am I an avid fantasy genre book reader and fan, but I make costumes and props for various low-budget films and am used to seeing very intricate detail and a high level of craftsmanship. Having said that, this spectacle in front of me was was nothing short of incredible. Look at the detail on the outside of this box alone!

Now I know you’re all wondering what’s inside. Brace yourself. It’s very cool.

The inside was filled with what looked like Maester’s vials, a map, and scrolls, all hand-crafted with remarkable detail.

Each vial included a scent indicative of a particular location. There were three scents for Winterfell: Crypt (where all Stark ancestors are buried), Godswood (where Ned often prays to his Gods) and Pepper (for smell of the castle’s kitchens); and three for Pentos on the Dothraki Sea: Salt Harbor (docks by the sea), Incense (frankincense, clove and pine) and the Spice Market (smells from the bustling trade post). Take note of the Makers Mark-esque melted wax caps. I know, amazing.

Here’s a close-up of the antiqued label for pepper. I’m honestly wondering how long it took to piece together each one of these boxes.

Each vile was labeled and marked with an intricate symbol. I wasn’t sure what the white marks were. Just another level of detail to make these appear ancient, I’m sure!

Parchment strips were included for my own personal dipping pleasure. Look at the handcrafted leather pouch they are stored in. I didn’t bother using these strips, but grabbed the vials and started sniffing intensely. It’s difficult to explain smells in writing, but each scent was exactly what I had expected. Bravo to the master (or should I say Maester) chemist.

Large flasks and gold funnels were provided so one could mix all three scents to get the full experience of each location. Here’s the flask for Pentos, which came in a linen-wrapped and rope-tied little package.

Here’s the Winterfell flask. I was going for dark and ominous here. After all, winter is coming.

Several scrolls were also included providing instructions on how to use the Maester’s set, as well as details regarding each scent and the location from whence it came.

Parchment scrolls unrolled. Gorgeous!

I’ve scanned in each of the scrolls so you could read them. Click on an images below to view it larger.

An introductory scroll was also included in the box. “For once they played the Game of Thrones – and lost.” I just got chills. Click on the image to read the scroll.

Last but not least, we were given a map of the Seven Kingdoms. I saw this as not only the lay of the land, but also a promise of more delights that will be handed out in the upcoming weeks!

Click on the image below to see the map in more detail. Note each house’s sigil prominently displayed over each land.

Even the back of the map was handcrafted!

This Maester’s box is just one of many parts of HBO’s promotional campaign leading up to the premiere of Game of Thrones in April. Stay tuned and we’ll let you know as soon as we have another experience to share.

Ok. Honestly, you now have the coolest job/hobby or whatever it is, that could land you something like that Kristen. Very friggen cool! I like the attention to details. Now, if they follow through into the show it's going to be amazing.

WOW! God I wish I could get one of those, I wouldn’t even imagine selling it though I’d just be happy to be able to say that I had it haha. BTW thanks for the help on the Maester’s Path game, I’ve read all the books (So-far) in the series and was still having trouble with it.

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